MOTORISTS have been left bemused about whether they need to pay to park on a high street after reading apparently contradictory signs.

North Yorkshire County Council has placed signs at the entrances to Northallerton High Street stating its controversial parking charges scheme came into effect on Monday.

The authority hopes the move will attract shoppers to the town by easing congestion and making short-stay car-parking easier in the High Street.

But traders, including Barkers department store, Bettys Tea Rooms and grocer Lewis and Cooper, have said the scheme will deter customers and of 400 people who responded to a council consultation over the scheme, only ten were in support.

In recent weeks, the council has installed a number of parking meters, which state motorists must pay 80p an hour after an initial 30 free minutes.

However, alongside the 250 parking bays, up to 20 signs fixed to posts, which do not mention parking charges, simply advise drivers they can park for up to two hours, from 8am to 6pm, from Monday to Saturday, as they could under previous parking scheme.

In the first two days of charging hundreds of motorists have paid up to £1.60 to park, while others have ignored the parking meters and displayed parking discs for up to two hours.

Scores of other motorists have paid for tickets and displayed parking discs in their windscreens.

Ian Woods, chairman of Thornton le Moor Parish Council, said: “It’s a complete farce. I’ve just driven down the High Street and it’s unclear whether you need to pay or not.

“I live in the area, so goodness knows what it would be like for someone new to the town.”

Motorist Doug Gray, who has lived in Northallerton for 50 years, said he had opted to place a disc in his car, while another driver, who declined to be named, left both a parking disc and a £1.60 ticket in her car.

She said: “I puzzled over the signs for a good ten minutes after parking, who knows what you should do?

“On reflection, if people do neither I don’t think they should be fined or should refuse to pay it as it’s just so confusing.”

A council spokesman said: “All the signs that are up comply with the national signage regulations.

“We will monitor the situation to see if there is a need for some extra signs.”

"A council spokesman said: “All the signs that are up comply with the national signage regulations.

“We will monitor the situation to see if there is a need for some extra signs.”

Or maybe take just ONE down?

"A council spokesman said: “All the signs that are up comply with the national signage regulations.
“We will monitor the situation to see if there is a need for some extra signs.”
Or maybe take just ONE down?RingoStarr

There's a competition in local government for the biggest bunch of idiots that can waste the most money idiotically. The winners get to run Lambeth Council for a year! Yeeeeahhhhhhhhhhh!

Sussed it!
There's a competition in local government for the biggest bunch of idiots that can waste the most money idiotically. The winners get to run Lambeth Council for a year! Yeeeeahhhhhhhhhhh!deckhanddave

If you live in Northallerton you pay ridiculous amounts of tax for many levels of Government. Then they charge you to park in your home town.

All to save the non jobs, high salaries & unaffordable pensions

If you live in Northallerton you pay ridiculous amounts of tax for many levels of Government. Then they charge you to park in your home town.
All to save the non jobs, high salaries & unaffordable pensionsspragger

RingoStarr wrote:
&quot;A council spokesman said: “All the signs that are up comply with the national signage regulations.

“We will monitor the situation to see if there is a need for some extra signs.”

Or maybe take just ONE down?

This made laugh, I thought the same thing.

[quote][p][bold]RingoStarr[/bold] wrote:
"A council spokesman said: “All the signs that are up comply with the national signage regulations.
“We will monitor the situation to see if there is a need for some extra signs.”
Or maybe take just ONE down?[/p][/quote]This made laugh, I thought the same thing.PlanetTea

It's quite clear really, the signs don't contradict each other if you read them carefully.

The disc parking signs are in force and valid, as stated by someone earlier.

The big sign pictured is an advanced warning sign saying charges "wlll" apply from Mon 9th June. This is a (very) advanced warning, as the next 9th of June to fall on a Monday will be in 2025.

There are no signs saying charges currently apply, so charges don't apply.

By including the word "will" on the big sign a timebomb was set. The meaning of that sign has now changed (by 11 years).

No-one parking could be expected to guess that the sign had been there since before the last 9th of June.

It's quite clear really, the signs don't contradict each other if you read them carefully.
The disc parking signs are in force and valid, as stated by someone earlier.
The big sign pictured is an advanced warning sign saying charges "wlll" apply from Mon 9th June. This is a (very) advanced warning, as the next 9th of June to fall on a Monday will be in 2025.
There are no signs saying charges currently apply, so charges don't apply.
By including the word "will" on the big sign a timebomb was set. The meaning of that sign has now changed (by 11 years).
No-one parking could be expected to guess that the sign had been there since before the last 9th of June.the original Homer

I paid 80p today and the machine deposited three identical parking tickets so next time I will take two mates with me in their own cars and then we can take advantage of the multibuy " buy one get two free offer!* LOL

I paid 80p today and the machine deposited three identical parking tickets so next time I will take two mates with me in their own cars and then we can take advantage of the multibuy " buy one get two free offer!* LOLAlways look on the bright side...

I used it today and I think everyone is making a mountain out of a molehill. You pull up. Get a free ticket. Nip into a few shops. Leave. Job done. You pay if you want to stay longer. Or you leave, freeing up spaces for the next person that just wants to grab a few bits. If you want longer there are car parks you can use. The stupid disc parking scheme was more confusing for non-locals; where do you get them? What do they mean? What do they do? Yes, I know what they are and what they do now; but when I first encountered them the concept of having to find a local shop that stocked them (which shops? All of them? A couple of them? Do you apply for them?). Much simpler to make it a free half hour, then pay if you want more.

Get a grip. Was nice to see a few spare parking spots for once this evening; was able to nip straight to the shop without stalking the entire high street for a space.

I used it today and I think everyone is making a mountain out of a molehill. You pull up. Get a free ticket. Nip into a few shops. Leave. Job done. You pay if you want to stay longer. Or you leave, freeing up spaces for the next person that just wants to grab a few bits. If you want longer there are car parks you can use. The stupid disc parking scheme was more confusing for non-locals; where do you get them? What do they mean? What do they do? Yes, I know what they are and what they do now; but when I first encountered them the concept of having to find a local shop that stocked them (which shops? All of them? A couple of them? Do you apply for them?). Much simpler to make it a free half hour, then pay if you want more.
Get a grip. Was nice to see a few spare parking spots for once this evening; was able to nip straight to the shop without stalking the entire high street for a space.pilchrat